Cardle's goal to cause problems

"It has been the story of our season; when we could have kicked on it just has not happened for us."

Joe Cardle has scored in both the previous two games against St Mirren this season and he is hoping to keep that habit going when he goes to Paisley on Saturday:-

"It is going to be a hard game against them. We are all looking forward to the game and it gives us another chance to go and get the three points that we need desperately. If Hibs were to lose on Sunday that would leave only four points in it and we still have to go and play them. That's how we are looking at it and staying positive. These are five crucial games coming up."

The three previous games between these sides this season have ended up 0-0, 1-2 and 1-1:-

"The 0-0 game was a close game but then when we played through there they were beating us 2-0 when I scored and we got back into the game. We could maybe have gone on and got an equaliser but unfortunately we didn't. The last game was fairly similar to the first game of the season. I got the goal at the start of the second half and maybe we could have pushed on again. It has been the story of our season; when we could have kicked on it just has not happened for us."

Joe did not start against Hearts two weeks ago but came on after 63 minutes and got a goal back with five minutes to go. No equaliser could be found and that's just typical of the Pars season claimed Joe:-

"Things have just not gone our way. Last season there would be games where we were drawing and scored in the last minute. It just hasn't happened for us that way this season. Instead of picking up three points we have been picking up just a point here and there."

Earlier in the season tendonitis kept Joe out of matches but he is working hard to keep it under control:-

"I am still doing all my exercises in the morning and after training. I just have to keep on top of it. I will play until the end of the season and then rest it as much as I can over the break. It has been holding up but I think I can get through the weeks that we have left successfully and rest."

Joe and his team mates desperately want to win on Saturday and the 25 year old winger doesn't need reminded of his manager's post match comment last time that Joe Cardle caused Dunfermline more problems than St Mirren did in the first half of the game:-

"When I was playing I was playing more in the middle of the pitch instead of out wide where I should have been. He explained that to me at half time and straight away I got more of the ball out wide. That's how I got my goal and as the game went on I got more involved. Hopefully I can start the game like it ended last time, I will be happy with that."